Antitheft mechanism for autos



Feb. 25, 1969 GEORGE S.YOSHIDA ANTITHEFT MECHANISM FOR AUTOS Filed June 7. 1965 INVEN 650265 5. YOSH/DA ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,430,058 ANTITHEFT MECHANISM FOR AUTOS George S. Yoshida, 8417 E. Clanton St., San Gabriel, Calif. 91776 Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 461,726 US. Cl. 307 Int. Cl. B60r 25/00 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application relates to means for preventing autos from being driven, thereby preventing theft of such a vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide theftpreventing means that includes keyless switch means which, by utilization of an automotive vehicles power, shuts off current except to said switching means, thereby making it possible to operate the motor of the vehicle but not to drive the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide theft-preventing mechanism that includes a keyless switch that, when set, by combination, to a pre-determined position, prevents starting of an auto engine by key or jumper wires.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism, as above characterized, in which the keyless switch normally grounds the electrical starter circuit and has but one pre-selected position, that normalizes the system so that key starting may be elfected.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description and which is based on the accompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical components of the present mechanism.

FIG. 2 is an inside face view of the manually settable dial component of two or more dial switches connected in the electrical circuit of the mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken through one of the dial switches with the dial component set in normal car-operating position.

FIG. 4 is a similar view with the dial component set in position to short the car-operating mechanism to ground, to prevent car operation.

The drawing shows the usual auto battery 5 that is conice nected to ground by one terminal (not shown) and has its other terminal 6 connected to a battery cable that comprises portions 7 and 7a and supplies electric power to the usual solenoid 8 for the starter 9 of the engine of said auto. A conductor 10 extends the battery cable from a switch 11, that is controlled by said solenoid 8, to one side of the usual lock-controlled ignition switch 12. A return conductor 13 from the opposite side of the switch 12, through a safety switch 14, connects to the live side of the solenoid 8, the other side being grounded.

The above generally conventional arrangement is provided with a current interrupter 15 between the cable portions 7 and 7a. The switch 14 is one that is commonly provided to remain closed when the shift mechanism of an auto is set at neutral or park, and to open when the shift mechanism is set at any position that will cause the auto to move with the engine running.

The present antitheft mechanism, in combination with the foregoing means, comprises, generally, a grounded circuit 16 that includes dial switch means 17, the mentioned ignition switch 12, a normally-open electromagnetic switch 18, a normally-closed electromagnetic switch 19, and a signal bell 22, a circuit breaking solenoid 23 operatively associated with the current interrupter 15, a third normally-open electromagnetic switch 24 that is controlled by closing of the normally-open switch 19 and connected to the conductor 13 on the ignition side of the safety switch 14 which grounds said switch 24, a protective circuit 25 for the dial switch means 17 and which includes a fourth normally-closed electromagnetic switch 26 to provide a grounded connection for the system which is in substitution for the switch means 17 when the conductors 27 and 28 are cut in an effort to nullify the theft-proof feature of said means 17.

The solenoid 23 comprises a coil 29, a normally-projected armature 30, and a bridging contactor 31. The current interrupter 15 comprises a dielectric member 32 that mounts spaced terminals 33 and 34 that are respectively connected to the battery cable portions 7 and 7a. The contactor 31 normally bridges across terminals 33 and 34. Energization of the coil 29 causes retraction of the armature 30 and electrical separation of the cable portion 7 and 7a.

When the auto is in parked condition and the key removed from the ignition lock that actuates the ignition switch 12, and with the dial switch means 17 in locked or shorted condition, and an attempt is made to start the engine by means of a key in said ignition lock or a jumper wire applied across conductor 13 and any hot wire of the circuit between ignition switch 12 and starter switch 11, current flow is established from point 36 of the closed safety switch 14 along conductors 37 and 39, through coil 40 of switch 18, through conductors 41, 42 and 43, and through the shorted dial means 17 to a ground line 44. Since the line 13 is in circuit through the ignition switch 12 with the battery cable 7, 70., this circuit energizes the coil 40 of switch 18, causing the contacts 45 of said switch to close. This establishes an electric circuit from the battery cable portion 7, through a conductor 46 and the switch contacts 45, and by way of a conductor 47 through coil 29 of the solenoid 23 to ground. The resultant energization of the solenoid 23, causes retraction of armature 30 and of bridging contactor 31, therefore interruption of current flow from cable portion 7 to cable portion 7a. Thus, all battery current is shut off beyond the terminal 33.

The bell 22 is simultaneously placed in circuit across the conductor 47 and ground and will sound the alarm when such unauthorized attempt to operate the auto is instituted.

When the auto engine is running and the switch means 17 are in locked or shorted position, there will be current to the coil 56 of the electromagnetic switch 19 of grounded circuit 16, through conductors 57 and 58 of said circuit across the ignition switch 12. In such case, the coil 56 will be energized to cause contact 59 to move into engagement with terminal 60, thus causing coil 61 of electromagnet 24 to become energized by means of a conductor 62 from terminal 60, and a conductor 63 connected to conductor 13. The coil 24 is grounded through the safety switch 14 and the starter solenoid coil 8 whenever the transmission gears of the auto are in neutral or park position and switch 14 is closed.

When the transmission of the auto is shifted into gear, the safety switch 14 will be open, opening the circuit to the coil 61 of switch 24, thereby opening the contacts 64 of said switch. Contacts 59 of switch 19 being closed, the line 65 is out of circuit, thereby opening the circuit to the ignition coil 66 and the distributor 67 that receives ignition current from the secondary of said coil, stopping the engine.

When the wires 27 and 28 are intact, current in conductor 58 from the ignition switch 12 to point 68 will be brought by a conductor 69 to one side of the coil 70 of the electromagnetic switch 26, the other side of said coil being grounded through conductor 28. The coil 70 being energized by this circuit, the contact 71 thereof are open. Said coil 70 is connected across the dial switch means 17. When the wires 27 and 28 are cut, the circuit coil 70 of switch 26 is opened. Since the contacts 71 are normally closed when coil 70 is de-energized, the circuit 16 is connected to ground 72 and said circuit is shorted. Thus, even though the dial switch means 17 is rendered inoperative, the operating circuit 16 is grounded and the starter will not work.

The means 17 may comprise two or more switch dial units 73 that are all alike. Each such unit comprises a dielectric fixed base 74 provided with a contact 75 that is connected to the conductor 27 and a spaced contact 76 that is conected to the ground line 44. Said contacts are resiliently biased outwardly. Each unit 73 further comprises a dielectric dial 77 that is mounted to turn on an arbor 78 and is provided with graduations 79 such as used on the dials of combination locks. The dial 77 mounts a metal bridging ring 80 that is rotationally adjustable around the axis of arbor 78 and may be locked in adjustment as by screws 81. At one point of said ring 80 is provided a dielectric strip 82. It will be understood that the ring 80 may be circumferentially adjusted relative to the dial 77 so that the same radially is in register with a selected graduation 79. When that graduation is set on an index, the strip 82 will be in contact with the contacts 75 and 76, thereby separating the ground 44 from the line 27 and the operating circuit will be open. With all of the units 73 set on their preselected graduations the auto can be driven since the operating circuit is effective.

When the dials 77 are turned so that one or more of the strips 82 are circumferentially displaced from the contacts 75 and 76, the same are in contact with the bridging ring 80 which shorts the line 27 to the ground 44, grounding the operating circuit above described and preventing operation of the auto.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an auto electric starter system having a battery connected to ground by one terminal, ignition means including a key-operated and lock-controlled ignition switch and an engine-starter having a switch connected in a series circuit with the ignition switch and ground:

(a) a current interrupting portion forming a gap in the circuit between the battery and the starter switch,

(b) a second electric circuit including an electromagnetic device with a switch contactor biased to normally bridge said gap to provide operating current in the first-mentioned circuit to the starter switch when the ignition switch is key-operated,

(c) manually-settable switch means that, in all positions except a pre-selected set position, grounds the second circuit to cause energization of said device and retraction of the contactor to open said gap and prevent current flow to the starter switch, and in said pre-selected set position opens said second circuit to restore the contactor to gap-bridging position under its bias to establish current flow to the starter switch when the ignition switch is key-operated, and a (d) grounded operating circuit that includes the settable switch means and is connected across the ignition switch to ground the circuit there-through when the settable switch means is rendered inoperative.

2. In a system according to claim 1, the settable switch means comprising a plurality of dial switches, each said switch comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced contacts, one connected to the mentioned circuit and the other to ground,

(b) a dial provided with circumferentially arranged uniform graduations and rotationally movable relative to said contacts,

(c) an adjustable metal ring carried by said dial and in contact with both contacts to short across the same and thereby connect said circuit to ground, and

(d) a dielectric part provided on said ring to break said grounding connection across the contacts when the dial is manually set on a graduation that is in register with said part.

3. In an auto electric starter system having a battery, ignition means including a key-operated lock-controlled ignition switch and an engine starter having a switch connected in a series circuit with the ignition switch and ground:

(a) a current-interrupting portion forming a gap in the circuit between the battery and the starter switch,

(b) a second electric circuit including an electromagnetic device with a switch contactor biased to normally bridge said gap to provide operating current in the first-mentioned circuit to the starter switch when the ignition switch is key-operated,

(c) manually-settable switch means that, in all positions except a pre-selected set position, grounds the second circuit to cause energization of said device and retraction of the contactor to open said gap and prevent current flow to the starter switch, and in said pre-selected set position opens said second circuit to restore the contactor to gap-bridging position under its bias to establish current flow to the starter switch when the ignition switch is keyoperated,

(d) a grounded operating, circuit that includes the settable switch means and is connected across the ignition switch to ground the circuit therethrough when the settable switch means is rendered inoperative,

(e) normally-closed switch means in said circuit cOnnected to the starter switch when open preventing return current flow to said starter switch, and

(f) a control switch in said circuit that closes and is connected to energize the mentioned solenoid to open 5 6 the mentioned gap in the battery connector when the magnetic switch means to connect said coil and dissettable means is grounded. tributor directly to the ignition switch. 4. In a system according to claim 3, a bell connected in circuit with the control switch to energize to sound References Clted when said switch closes. i 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. In a system accordlng to claim 3, a clrcuit-mamtam- 2,251,735 8/1941 Gob-by 340*64 ing switch electrically connected to the normally-closed switch to conduct current in the latter switch until ground 2515O44 7/1950 Kai? p 61 2,583,752 1/1952 Sm1th 34064 connection is broken at the lgnltlon switch and the manuy settable swltch p 10 ROBERT s. MACON, Primary Examiner.

6. In a system according to clalm 3: (a) electromagnetic switch means connected between H, JR., Assistant Examiner.

the ignition switch and the ignition coil and distributor of the auto, and Cl (b) a safety switch in the starter circuit that closes 15 200-43; 34064 when the auto is out of gear to energize said electro- 

